Messiah, 299A

~ Jesus Christ Claimed To Be The Messiah ~                

Jesus Christ—The Messiah said, “Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me” (John 5:39). 

The Fourfold Witness  ~  The Messiah said, “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth [1^st witness].  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish — the very works that I do — bear witness of Me [2^nd witness], that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me [3^rd witness].  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me [4^th witness].  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.   But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you — Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:31-47).

note Scripture  ~  “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). 

The Healing of the Paralytic  ~  “One day while he was teaching, some Jewish religious leaders and teachers of the Law were sitting nearby.  (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.)  And the Lord’s healing power was upon him.  Then-look!  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn’t reach him.  So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven!’  ‘Who does this fellow think he is?’ the Pharisees and teachers of the Law exclaimed among themselves.  ‘This is blasphemy!  Who but God can forgive sins?’  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he replied, ‘Why is it blasphemy?  I, the Messiah, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.  But talk is cheap-anybody could say that.  So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.’  Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, ‘Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!’  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God!  Everyone present was gripped with awe and fear.  And they praised God, remarking over and over again, ‘We have seen strange things today’” (Luke 5:17-26 TLB, also see Matthew 9:2-8 and Mark 2:1-12). 

The Jacob’s Well Incident  ~  Consider the account of Jesus Christ interacting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the city of Sychar:  “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ).  ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’  Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’ (John 4:25-26). 

The Sanhedrin Incident  ~  The account of Jesus Christ before the Sanhedrin: “And the high priest [Caiaphas] stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, ‘Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?’  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Blessed?’  Jesus said, ‘I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14:60-62). 

The Road to Emmaus  ~  Consider the incident of Christ appearing to the disciples while they were traveling the road to Emmaus. 

“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.  And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’  Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’

And He said to them, ‘What things?’

So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.   But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.  And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.’ 

Then He [Christ, The Messiah] said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:13-27, also see Mark 16:12-13).

With His Disciples After His Resurrection  ~  “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.  Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And you are witnesses of these things.  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high’  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.  Amen” (Luke 24:44-53, see also Mark 16:19-20 and Acts 1:9).

The Great “I AM”  ~  “Then the Jews said to Jesus, ‘Now we know that You have a demon!  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, “If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.”  Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead.  Who do You make Yourself out to be?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.  It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him.  And if I say, “I do not know Him,” I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’  Then the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’  Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’” (John 8:52-58).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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